Electrical switch.



BEST AVAILABLE co .PATEN'IED MAY 9, 1905.

H. R. SARGENT. ELECTRICAL swnrcn.

APPLIQQATIOK FILED 00129. 1902.

Inventor":

Howar' .5ar'gent,

any.

. Witnesses:

UNITED STATES seer AVAILABLE cos Patented May 9, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

HOIVARD R. SARGENT, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,459, dated May 9, 1905.

Application filed October 9, 1902. Serial No. 126,442.

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD R. SARGENT, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switches,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical switches and similar devices, and has for its objectto provide removable means for insulating and protecting the exposed metallic parts of such devices.

As electric switches, and especially snapswitches, have been made heretofore they have consisted of a base of suitable insulating material, upon the front side of which were mounted the binding-posts, held in place by screws entering from the opposite side of the base-piece, and from the center of which the actuating-spindle of the movable parts projected, this spindle being journaled in a bushing extending through the base part and secured thereto, and the parts for accomplishing the sudden stopping and releasing of the switch-blade have been mounted in some cases on the front side of the base part and in other cases on the back thereof. The front end of the actuating-spindle has been provided with a handle of insulation, and all other parts on the face of the base part have been carefully inclosed by a protecting cap, whereas the metallic parts at the back have been left entirely exposed, or at most only a small part of them, such as the screw heads, have been protected. As a consequence of such exposu re numerous instances of short-circuiting have occurred on account of other metallic parts coming in contact therewith or from dust and moisture collecting thereon.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of a snapswitch with one form of protector embodying my invention applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the insulating-protector.

As shown in the drawings, 1 is a base, of porcelain or other insulating material, having circular depressions 2 and 3 on its front and back sides, respective d with apertures 4 for the passage the of the linewires to the binding-p front side of the base. An aperture is provided in the center of the base 1, in which is secured the bushing 7 which serves as a bearing for the operating-spindle 8. The spindle 8 is provided with the usual handle 9, the switchblade 10, the tension-spring 11, the cam-release 12, and pin 13 and is secured in the bushing 7 by a split washer or other device 14 on the back side of the base 1.

In order to effectually inclose the end of the spindle 8 and the other metallic parts as sociated therewith on the back of the base, I provide holes or recesses 15 in opposite side walls of the depression 3, whereby shoulders 16 are formed, and into the depression I place a disk 17, of insulating fiber, which is provided with tongues 18 for engaging the shoulders 16 and is shaped to lit the side walls of the depression 3. Any insulating material may be used for this disk provided it be flexible, so as to permit it to be bent or flexed sufficiently to spring the tongues 18 into the recesses. When it is desired to remove the disk 17, a knife or other pointed instrument may be forced between the edge of the disk and the wall of the depression 3, causing the disk to buckle and withdraw the tongue free from its retaining-shoulder 16.

It.is evident that my invention is applicable to any electrical device where it is desired to protect conducting parts by removable means, and I therefore do not restrict myself to a switch.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination with an insulating-base for electrical apparatus having a depression therein'with recesses in its side walls, of a disk of insulating material adapted to fit said depression and having projecting tongues to enter said recesses.

BEST AVAlLABLE COP 2. The combination with a porcelain base In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my having a circular depression therein with rehand this 6th day of October, 1902. cesses in its side walls, of a flexible disk of insulating material adapted to fit the side HOWARD T' 5 walls of said depression and provided with Witnesses:

tongues or projections adapted to enter said BENJAMIN B. HULL,

recesses. HELEN ORFORD. 

